AC/DC : The end of a f... good era

[Bandit72]

Sad news

AC/DC are ending their 41 year career on a terribly sad note.

Plans were underway for a new studio album, their first since 2008's monumental Black Ice, and a '40th Anniversary' world tour, 40 huge shows across the globe.

More than a month ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain.

http://theorstrahyun.blogspot.ca/2014/0 ... 4.html?m=1

[Matz]

that blows

Fist fights over riffs and people loosing teeth?! didn't know that, how cool

[Larry B.]

Is this confirmed? I read about this on Reddit this morning, but couldn't find any source that didn't say "rumours..." or "word is that..."

I also just realized this guy is the same age as my dad. So strange.

[Jasper]

That sucks. AC/DC is one of those things that should always exist.

They're one of the live acts that contributed to my hearing damage in my youth. All children should have the opportunity to have their eardrums blown out by AC/DC.

[Pandemonium]

What shitty news. There's been rumors of "health problems" with someone in the band for the past several years, dunno if it's all been Malcolm or not. Brian Johnson seemed fin and has been out and about even as recently as last month where he sang an AC/DC tune with Billy Joel of all people at MSG. But judging from the article, it sounds like Malcolm's possibly been suffering some sort of degenerative brain disease for months and the stroke was the capper.

Glad I saw them in '82, '86 and in '08.

[Pandemonium]

Digging a little deeper, there seems to be a lot of conflicting info that the band is actually announcing they are "retiring" or at least making such an announcement in the near future. It's also worth noting that Malcolm's nephew Stevie Young subbed for Malcolm in '86 during the "Who Made Who" tour when Malcolm was in rehab to get off alcohol.

[Bandit72]

http://news.sky.com/story/1243618/ac-dc ... nt-rumours

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/musi ... iring.html

AC/DC: We are not retiring
Exclusive: Brian Johnson, the frontman of the rock band AC/DC, tells Jake Wallis Simons that rumours that the band are about to split up following concerns for the health of Malcolm Young are not true

[tvrec]

http://www.spin.com/articles/acdc-not-r ... ticle1_cta

Illness true, but the band is still going forward according to this more detailed report from Spin.

[Pandemonium]

They released a statement this morning that Malcolm is "taking a break" from the band that sounds more like he's retiring. However, they add that they will continue to "make music" indicating that at least they still plan on recording next month in Vancouver. No mention on who if anyone is going to replace Malcolm in the studio, much less live if they tour.

[chaos]

http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-ne ... ke-a-break

AC/DC Will Not Retire; But Malcolm Young Will Take A Break 'Due To Illness'

POSTED BY ROBERT PASBANI ON APRIL 16, 2014 AT 11:45 AM

Yesterday, rumors surfaced that Malcolm Young, the founder and main songwriter of AC/DC suffered a stroke so bad recently that he cannot currently perform with the band. The rumors were that rather than move forward, the band would just call it quits. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Early this morning, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson spoke to Telegraph UK saying the band still plans to hit the studio:

"We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he told the Telegraph. "We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it."

When asked if any member of the band had taken ill, he wouldn't say who but did say "one of the boys has a debilitating illness."

We can confirm that it's Malcolm Young with the illness, as the band just released an official statement saying the older Young brother will be "taking a break" from the band:

“After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.

In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.”

It's certainly a bummer that Malcolm cannot perform with the band but clearly the members see this as a business and there is money to be made. I'm sure Malcolm has some medical bills that need paying and ultimately, there is still demand for AC/DC to play, so why wouldn't they go for the opportunity?

[Pandemonium]

It's certainly a bummer that Malcolm cannot perform with the band but clearly the members see this as a business and there is money to be made. I'm sure Malcolm has some medical bills that need paying and ultimately, there is still demand for AC/DC to play, so why wouldn't they go for the opportunity?

I don't think money factors much into whatever decisions they are making as far as recording and touring at this point in their lives. They are one of the most lucrative acts of the past few decades, up there with bands like The Rolling Stones, U2, etc. Just their last tour in '08-'10 made over 440 million dollars and AC/DC remains one of the most widely merched bands in existence. I just don't see them releasing an album and touring again because Malcolm needs cash for whatever medical care he needs no matter how pricey it might be going forward. The original idea was to do a short 40th Anniversary tour with a "mere" 40 shows worldwide as basically their farewell tour. I think they just want to do some shows one last time while most of them still can do it.

[chaos]

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/mus ... 0m1hs.html

AC/DC's Malcolm Young reportedly in care for dementia in Sydney
September 26, 2014
Bernard Zuel

It may be that dementia is claiming another giant, this time a musical one.

AC/DC co-founder, guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young, whose retirement from the band was announced on Wednesday, has been moved into full-time care in a nursing home facility in Sydney's eastern suburbs specialising in dementia, sources connected to the Young family have said.


AC/DC band members, from left, Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Cliff Williams in 2000. Photo: Getty Images

The home is understood to be Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay, the same facility that is home to Gough Whitlam and, until his recent death, Neville Wran, who was afflicted with dementia in his last years.

The Young family connection said: "If you were in the room with [Malcolm Young] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn't remember who you are. He has a complete loss of short-term memory. His wife, Linda, has put him in full-time care."

Both AC/DC's record company, Sony, and their label, publisher and home for more than 40 years, Albert Music, were approached for comment.


Malcolm Young, right, with his brother Angus, pictured here in 2000. Photo: Paul White

While the announcement of Young's retirement from AC/DC, the band he formed and helped turn into the biggest Australian rock act of all time, has been inevitable for some months, it hasn't lessened the disappointment. Nor the sense of an era ending.

AC/DC have sold more than 200 million albums, feature at or near the top of highest grossing tour lists whenever they play live and were the standard bearers for Australian music years before the likes of INXS, Kylie Minogue or 5 Seconds of Summer.

The sound of pub rock, the defining mainstream sound of Australian music in the 1970s and '80s, could be said to have emerged from the stages and the studios AC/DC inhabited.



Young, the 61-year-old rhythm guitarist and solid centre of the songs behind his flamboyant, lead guitarist younger brother, Angus, officially resigned his position in AC/DC months after returning to Australia from Europe where he had been living.

The first official word on what was assumed to be a serious and debilitating, but still undisclosed, illness, was in April when it was confirmed that Young would not be participating in the recording of the next AC/DC album, which will be called Rock Or Bust and is due out in late November.

In his place during the recording sessions in a Vancouver studio has been his nephew, Steve.


AC/DC, with Malcolm Young at lower left. Photo: Guido Karp

In an announcement from the band's management this week, it was revealed that Steve will join Angus Young, frontman Brian Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd on stage when the band embarks on another massive world tour in 2015.

[Pandemonium]

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/mus ... 0m1hs.html

AC/DC's Malcolm Young reportedly in care for dementia in Sydney
September 26, 2014
Bernard Zuel

It may be that dementia is claiming another giant, this time a musical one.

AC/DC co-founder, guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young, whose retirement from the band was announced on Wednesday, has been moved into full-time care in a nursing home facility in Sydney's eastern suburbs specialising in dementia, sources connected to the Young family have said.

It was shitty news back in April and it's shitty news now. I don't know if I want to go see them again next year. The last tour was pretty good but it was clear the band was getting up there in years even back in '08. The story is they recorded the newest album in a whopping 10 days and spent a few more week mixing it which in this day is pretty remarkable. The new single will be out tomorrow (Saturday) as part of some kind of plug for the Baseball play-off and WS and the album streets the first week of Dec.

[Jasper]

Poor guy. How depressing.

[Pandemonium]

More trouble for AC/DC:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/1 ... -Phil-Rudd



Meth and soliciting murder for hire.... what a fucking dumbass. There's little hope Rudd's going to be able to tour next year considering the seriousness of the charges keeping him in the country until his trial even if the band wants him to continue with them (they split with him once before in 1983 for almost a decade). That will leave basically Angus, Brian and bassist Cliff with Stevie Young and whoever drummer for hire they get (hopefully not Chris Slade or someone like Matt Sorum). Band seems under a dark cloud right now.

[Bandit72]

That will leave basically Angus, Brian and bassist Cliff with Stevie Young and whoever drummer for hire they get (hopefully not Chris Slade or someone like Matt Sorum)..

Both very good drummers, however Chris Slade is 68 now! Don't think the AC/DC sound suits Sorum's style.

Anyway, I didn't realise Phil Rudd was such a mess

[LJF]

More trouble for AC/DC:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/1 ... -Phil-Rudd



Meth and soliciting murder for hire.... what a fucking dumbass. There's little hope Rudd's going to be able to tour next year considering the seriousness of the charges keeping him in the country until his trial even if the band wants him to continue with them (they split with him once before in 1983 for almost a decade). That will leave basically Angus, Brian and bassist Cliff with Stevie Young and whoever drummer for hire they get (hopefully not Chris Slade or someone like Matt Sorum). Band seems under a dark cloud right now.

I saw this this morning, man does he look like a wreck. Does it say who he was trying to have killed?

[Pandemonium]

I saw this this morning, man does he look like a wreck. Does it say who he was trying to have killed?

No, but it sounds like Rudd routinely solicited a *lot* of the local hookers and would refuse to pay for their services resulting in pissed off pimps/boyfriends threatening him. So he hired a few round the clock bodyguards for his house and I guess one of them is the guy Phil wanted to take care of a few people who were the most problematic. Of course, when you have meth-heads, hookers and other seedy types around at all hours, nothing stays secret for long. Expect this to get real ugly once the trial starts.

[LJF]

I saw this this morning, man does he look like a wreck. Does it say who he was trying to have killed?

No, but it sounds like Rudd routinely solicited a *lot* of the local hookers and would refuse to pay for their services resulting in pissed off pimps/boyfriends threatening him. So he hired a few round the clock bodyguards for his house and I guess one of them is the guy Phil wanted to take care of a few people who were the most problematic. Of course, when you have meth-heads, hookers and other seedy types around at all hours, nothing stays secret for long. Expect this to get real ugly once the trial starts.

Looks like old Phil is trying to make his own real life video of Dirty Deeds.

[Pandemonium]

What a turn of events. The charges of at least soliciting murder-for-hire were dropped today (the meth charges still stand) due to insufficient evidence. This really puts AC/DC in a awkward position - earlier today they issued a statement basically saying the album promotion and tour would go one without him.

[Pandemonium]

AC/DC announced North American tour dates today. Unfortunately, they're all stadium shows including an LA stop at the horrible Dodger Stadium. Big pass for me unless the field is GA.

August 22 - Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium - On Sale February 16
August 26 - E. Rutherford, NJ MetLife Stadium - On Sale February 16
August 28 - Quebec City, ON Plains Of Abraham - On Sale February 16
August 31 - Montreal, QC Olympic Stadium - On Sale February 16
September 3 - Ottawa, ON TD Place - On Sale February 16
September 5 - Moncton, NB Magnetic Hill - On Sale February 16
September 8 - Detroit, MI Ford Field - On Sale February 16
September 10 - Toronto, ON Downsview Park - On Sale February 16
September 15 - Chicago, IL Wrigley Field - On Sale February 16
September 20 - Edmonton, AL Commonwealth Stadium - On Sale February 16
September 22 - Vancouver, BC BC Place - On Sale February 16
September 25 - San Francisco, CA AT&T Park - On Sale February 15
September 28 - Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium - On Sale February 16

[Bandit72]

[clickie]

Cliff Williams just put his house on the market. Its a pretty sweet pad.

http://www.news-press.com/story/money/i ... /70730206/

[clickie]

His landscaper probably made 100 thousand a year on that house alone.

[Bandit72]

AC/DC

FINALLY on Spotify